Summary Faction is the intersection between factual research and imagination. Emulating historical fiction and science fiction, Faction asks students to research a topic thoroughly, and then write a story around the facts in an entertaining way. In lieu of a five paragraph research essay, Faction can be a guided research assignment. In that format, students are given three to five quality primary sources or articles on a topic, and from the perspective of a character linked to the topic, write diary entries, letters, plays, etc. based on a fictional life. Research can be indicated through citations.
Teaching and Learning Purposes
When: As an alternative assignment, or as a guided research project, as a chance for students to personalize their learning, and as a way of engaging students more in critical literacy and historical perspective.
Topic Search: Lead students through the process of creating a list, gradually releasing the control to the students until they can select their own research topic with general criteria.
Adapted from Content Area Writing by Harvey Daniels, et. al.
1920’s Research Project- The Great Gatsby Possible Faction Topics
-American economy -Red Scare -Admiral Byrd -F. Scott Fitzgerald -Flappers -The Cotton Club -Stock market crash -Harlem Renaissance -Prohibition -Popular music -Racial violence -Popular dances -Organized crime -Ziegfeld Follies -Art deco -Al Capone -Herbert Hoover -Fats Waller -Henry Ford -Inventions of the 1920s -Vaudeville -Scope Trial -Elliot Ness -Charlie Parker -Silent movies -Charles Lindbergh -Jazz music -Rudolph Valentino
Identify the Audience:
You, the teacher
The students
“Whom might this Faction influence, living or dead, real or imagined?”
Research: Depending on the length of the assignment, a few good resources will do, the operative word of course being good. Guided research is best and preliminary planning can drastically improve your students’ work. Scouring the internet ahead of time, teaching kids to evaluate websites, and giving kids a list of a few websites to choose can make a world of difference.
Prewriting:
Age, Social Status, Occupation, Education, Background, Gender, Goals, hopes, dreams
Impact of the researched information upon the character’s life
Drafting:
The first draft should be written in class for the teacher
Have students read aloud what they have completed in 30 minutes
Use peer editing groups if you have some in place. Build out the rubric as a class so that expectations are clear
Revising:
Sufficient evidence of quality research
Imaginative yet still accurate characterization and attention to the incident and detail
Remember The first Faction assignment that you ask your students to do might be highly guided but can eventually be more independent. Whenever a student chooses their own topics, they have increased investment. The optimal situation is when students do not even have a list. Class time can be devoted to discussion of the research.
Possible Variations
Have students review chapters in textbooks, paying special attention to the items highlighted in bold. They can make their own list of topics from there.
Identify good websites related to a general topic and have students choose their Faction research topic from that site.
Summary
Faction is the intersection between factual research and imagination. Emulating historical fiction and science fiction, Faction asks students to research a topic thoroughly, and then write a story around the facts in an entertaining way. In lieu of a five paragraph research essay, Faction can be a guided research assignment. In that format, students are given three to five quality primary sources or articles on a topic, and from the perspective of a character linked to the topic, write diary entries, letters, plays, etc. based on a fictional life. Research can be indicated through citations.
Teaching and Learning Purposes
Adapted from Content Area Writing by Harvey Daniels, et. al.
Possible Faction Topics
-Red Scare
-Admiral Byrd
-F. Scott Fitzgerald
-Flappers
-The Cotton Club
-Stock market crash
-Harlem Renaissance
-Prohibition
-Popular music
-Racial violence
-Popular dances
-Organized crime
-Ziegfeld Follies
-Art deco
-Al Capone
-Herbert Hoover
-Fats Waller
-Henry Ford
-Inventions of the 1920s
-Vaudeville
-Scope Trial
-Elliot Ness
-Charlie Parker
-Silent movies
-Charles Lindbergh
-Jazz music
-Rudolph Valentino
Primary source
Remarks on East-West Relations at the Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin, June 12, 1987
http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/speeches/1987/061287d.htm
Remember
The first Faction assignment that you ask your students to do might be highly guided but can eventually be more independent. Whenever a student chooses their own topics, they have increased investment. The optimal situation is when students do not even have a list. Class time can be devoted to discussion of the research.
Possible Variations